While that post references many of the novel's major connections to Dungeons & Dragons, I thought it worthwhile to return to it at greater length in this post, focusing not just on those connections but on more of the details of its story. More than a decade ago, I wrote a very brief post about Three Hearts and Three Lions. If you look more closely at his fantasy works, however, I think it becomes harder to deny his direct influence on the game. Anderson is generally seen as a science fiction author and understandably so, given his output in that genre, which might explain why he's often overlooked compared to Howard or Leiber or Vance when it comes to seminal D&D inspirations.

That author is Poul Anderson, particularly with reference to his 1961 novel, Three Hearts and Three Lions. Nevertheless, there is one Appendix N author not listed among 'the most direct influences upon AD&D' that I feel ought to be there – and, no, I'm not talking about J.R.R. I think it would be difficult for any fair-minded person to find fault with his selection of these authors their direct influence on D&D (and on the wider fantasy genre) is undeniable. Of these, Gygax singles out a handle for special mention: DeCamp & Pratt, Robert E. Appendix N includes just shy of thirty different authors whom Gary Gygax considered to have been 'of particular inspiration' to him creating Dungeons & Dragons.

Three hearts three lions